Obituary of Wesley Red Crow

“Siksinam”

January 6, 1959 – Siksika, Alberta

December 14, 2021 – Siksika, Alberta

 

It’s with heavy hearts we announce that our beloved Wesley Red Crow “Siksinam” of Siksika, AB, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, December 14, 2021, at 9:05 pm at the age of 62 years. He was surrounded by his family.
 

Wesley Red Crow “Siksinam” was born Tuesday, January 6, 1959, at the Blackfoot Hospital on Siksika Nation. Wesley lived both on Siksika and Kainai. He took turns to be with his grandparents and families. Here on Siksika was his grandparents Jack and Ellen Winnipeg’s farm. Kainai was with his great-grandmother Maatsisaipi. He retained his Blackfoot Language through both his grandparent’s telling stories and singing lullabies at nighttime. Most times hearing his grandmother’s sing sons and praying.

 

Wesley was born into the “Baby Boom era” and had such common knowledge. He lived a time where Siksika only spoke Blackfoot and still practiced many traditions and ceremonies. His grandmother Siikotaan still wore traditional moccasins, braided hair, hankies and dresses. Wesley also lived in a time where his great grandmother “Maatsisaipi” would travel from the Blood reserve by horse and wagon to visit them in Siksika. Maatsisaipi also named Wesley “Siksinam”. Wesley lived in a time where there wasn’t running water, electricity and cooked on a wood stove. In the mid 60’s he seen a change of electricity and soon experienced his first television.

 

Wesley lived closely with extended relatives, Winnipeg, Yellow Horse, Raw Eaters, and Mayfield. He was always outside playing games, making cans into cars, and mentioned times they would knock over the outhouse and come out running, pretending to be soldiers landing on shore. Wesley shared stories about a time living in a two-room shack and hammocks hung all over the room. He would always tell stories about his grandmother Maatsisaipi speaking really good Blackfoot.

 

Wesley attended the Old Sun Indian Residential School here on the Siksika Nation, for Grade 1 to 6 and one week at the St. Mary’s Indian Residential school on the Blood Reserve. Before Grade 1 he attended as a day scholar for kindergarten. It was a time that wasn’t spoke of and most times referring it to as a prison, horrific, and lonely time. He mentioned about being shown how to milk a cow and attend barn duties, also a time getting a Tonka truck for Christmas. After Indian Residential school he started to work for his uncle Hector Sr Winnipeg out in Shouldice (miinipohka) area for seasonal work. At the age of 12 years old he was driving a three-ton standard truck and farm equipment.

 

Wesley also lived in Calgary with his mother and siblings taking care of their grandmother “Sikotaan”. During the time he lived in Calgary he worked as a valet, cleaner and maintenance. Wesley’s friends and family would often speak of a time it took seven police officers to restrain him. He unknowingly knew his drink was spiked. Wesley always told a story about him wearing platforms and walking on the sidewalks and slipping into a crack, causing him to fall, only saving the cases of beer in both hands. This was in the 70’s.

 

Wesley worked in various occupations and had a passionately love for classic and muscle vehicles. He enjoyed spending time fixing and suiting up them. His favorite was the Chevrolet Silverado. Wesley would often listen to his favorite song “Sir Duke” by Stevie Wonder. Blasted in his vehicle dancing away. Music and dancing he sure loved. Wesley attended Viscount continuing Education in Calgary for Mechanics alongside with his sister Kanaki. He obtained his Class 2 driver license scoring the highest mark 98%. His classmates saw Wesley as a mentor more than a fellow student. Wesley passionately loved sports, golfing and hockey. He played hockey for the Blackfoot Midget team along with Merlin Breaker, Woody Royal and Head Coach Clifford Many Guns. He enjoyed the times he would golf and play baseball. Wesley also was a left-handed in the sports he participated in. He was known to always have the 960 AM station on in his vehicle. He loved to watch sports; hockey, football, Nazcar, and Olympics.

 

Wesley met the love of his life Regina at the prime age of 19 years old. Their first date was at the Calgary Stampede. Wesley always talked about how beautiful she was and his soulmate. He shared stories of how much he loved her long beautiful hair and the beautiful love she had. Wesley and Regina had their first child Kent and later having Trevor, then his daughter Samantha and adopted daughter Danielle. He always was so thankful for his wife giving him such precious children to love. He always prided on how strong Regina was in taking care of their children. Regina and Wes would always go for long drives on end, and dates to the drive-in movie theatres. They got married in 1985 at the Foothills Alliance Church in Calgary. Their first vehicle together was a Dodge car later finding out Dodge was never to be bought ever again. Regina and Wes were very close and always together taking care of one another. Their love for each other was forever and noticeable to all. Wes loved to drop and pick up Regina from work. They loved to debrief and share their stories of their day. Wes loved to always bring her shopping and to her favorite store Reitman’s. Not only did he have the love of his life, but he also had a partner in crime. They both really loved to play bingo and test their luck at the casino and Wheatland. They both enjoyed waking up at home from long visits with family and friends. Life isn’t always easy, but Wes always believed in God/Creator and his marriage to Regina. Through the time Wesley was diagnosed with diabetes, heart disease and kidney failure, Regina stood by his side taking care of him day and night. The love she had for him never faded during this time, only grew stronger. He loved her very much and never ever wanted to leave her alone. He always told her “Even in the spirit world I will be with you and waiting until they see each other again”. He often spoke about her being a full blood Blackfoot women and add Pocahontas! Wesley would always tease her to get her attention and would always make his children laugh because of it. He always teased her but always was to show his love for her. He loved Regina beyond measures.

 

At the age of 29 years old Wesley was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. In his early 50s Wesley started to have heart problems, later bringing him to a double bypass surgery at the Foothills hospital. Wesley started hemodialysis in December 2012 at the Foothills hospital, then being transferred to Sheldon M. Chumir Health Center for three days out of the week for treatments. His wife, children, and Siksika Health transportation would help with Wesley’s commute to Calgary and back to Siksika. Although Wesley was greatly ill, he never showed it as a weakness and fought to the very end with his physical body. He shared his wishes with his children and wife if anything was to every happen, he never ever wanted to part with any of the gifts God/Creator gave him. During the times he was cared for at the hospitals and Sheldon M. Chumir, Wesley made friends and always shared his Blackfoot language and his life stories. The family would like to a specially thank the doctors (Surgent Theresa Kesser, Dr. Kristina Lions, Dr. Wendy Wang, his family Dr. Lana Fher, and Dr. Ho) and medical teams (Floor 2 hemodialysis, Siksika Home Care, and Unit 42 PLC) for all their hard and dedicated work in caring for their families “Shield” Wesley Red Crow, husband, father, grandfather, son, nephew, uncle, great uncle, and friend.

 

Wesley retired from his employment with Siksika Disability Services back in 2012. During his time with Siksika Elders and Disability, he was always traveling with the elders and those with disabilities. Some of the places that they traveled to was Treaty 7 pow wows and the annual Kamloops getaway. He was very passionate about his job and loved to speak Blackfoot on a weekly basis. His clients were always missed and often would take visits into town to visit them. Wesley had a retirement farewell from Siksika Disability and felt truly blessed and honored.

 

Wesley was about 99.9% always right! he had great life experiences and had great logical thinking. He was a comical man and always had something to say funny about someone’s action or something; for example, was to never buy a FORD (Found off Road Dead). He loved his pets and took good care of them and always making sure they were fed and had water; also grooming them and sharing a toss of his food here and there. He was a friendly giant with a big heart. Wesley enjoyed watching; News, Who’s the Boss, Threes Company, Discovery Channel, and Game show (Family Feud). He always had a love to watch a new movie or classic with his wife, children and grandchildren. He would often refer to Regina as Scarlett Oh-Haira!

 

He loved his children so much and never ever wanted to burden them. He always supported them in their daily needs and shelter. He would always enjoy his days and nights working on his and other vehicles with Trevor. Or being checked on occasionally by his son Kent or being chauffeured by him. He never failed to support his daughter Samantha and Son in law Jarrett at the Sundance. He always checked in on his daughter Danielle and “Tour guide” Travis! He loved all his children very much! When Wesley became a grandfather to his first grandson Dalen, he never ever wanted to miss a moment of his life, always loving the title grandpa! Along came his other grandchildren, Brayden, Zoe, Clay, Anna, Anessa, Leah Connor, Feather, Peyton, Lorna, Jukka, Apani and Marcus, which he all adored so much and would ask for visits often. He always had an extra careful eye for his grandchildren, and never wanted to leave one out our feel left out. He loved each and one of them so much!

 

Wesley is survived by his loving wife of 42 years Regina Red Crow, his children, Kent (Kathy) Red Crow, Trevor (Gerri) Red Crow, Samantha (Jarrett) Pretty Young Man, Danielle (Travis) Red Crow; and adopted son Brandi Doore. His precious gems, his grandchildren, Dalen (Selena), Brayden, Zoe, Clay, Connor, Leah, Anna, Peyton, Adonis, Feather, Apani, Anessa, Lorna, Jukka and Marcus. His mother Jessie Buller, sibling Danny Red Crow, ek-Kanankii Mekaisto, Mona (Paul) Melting Tallow, Jennifer (Warren) Red Crow, Alden (Young-hwa) May Field, Chrissy Red, Ursula (Faye) Wolf Child, Girly Runner, Tracy Calf Robe, Lorile Calf Robe and Danielle Wolf Leg. His sisters and brothers-in-law, Patrica Yellow Sun, Georgina Cardinal, Melvina McMaster, Angelina (Henry) Many Shots, Virginia Daniels, Dwayne (Gabriella) Many Shots. Aunts and Uncles, Clarence (late Emily) Red Crow, Ada Red Crow, Rosie McHugh, Stella (Peter) Chief Calf, Sharon (Daryl) Beddome, Karen Whooper, Gilbert Black Water, and Norbert Black Water. Duncan (Ruth) Winnipeg, Elsie Winnipeg. Great aunty, Joanne (Jojo) Cochran. Naam oon James (Willy) Red Crow, great grandparents, Henry (Helen) Cochran, Mary (Maatsisaipi) Rider, Willy and Alice Mayfield. Grandparents, Jim (Rosie) Red Crow, Ada (Sam) Kadonaga and Jack and Ellen (Siikotaan) Winnipeg. Great aunts and uncles, Bill Black Water, George Black Water, Stanley Black Water, Tony Black Water, Myrtle Scout, Annie Black Water, Maryann Black Water, Bridget Many Grey Horse, William Rider, Mark Mayfield, Betsy Yellow Old Women, Rosa Turning Robe, Ceril D. Chief. Uncle and Aunties, Peter (Noella) Winnipeg, Hector Sr. Winnipeg, Rosie Yellow Horse, Alice Winnipeg, Campbell Winnipeg, Daryl Royal, Ross (Sarah) Soosay, Fredrick (Elizabeth) Red Crow, Camelia Wadsworth, Roselynn Many Guns, John Red Crow, Lena Red Crow, Lucille Red Crow, Carole Red Crow, Jim Jr Red Crow, Levi Black Water, Andy Black Water and Clarence Black Water. Brothers and sister-in-law; Lillian (Lilly) Yellow Sun, Gilbert Cardinal, and Charles McMaster. Niece and Nephews, Natasha Many Shots, Nathan Good Eagle, Vanessa Red Crow, Todd Calf Robe,  Zandis Red Crow, Lindsey Yellow Sun, Zennon Yellow Horse, Kimberly Yellow Sun, Jason Daniels, Lindsay Yellow Sun, great nephews, Preston and Dustin McMaster.

 

The Legacy that survives is his family lineage from the Blackfoot Confederacy; Red Crow, McHugh, Panther Bone, Black Water, Cochran, Platted Hair, Big Snake, Many Fingers, Rider, Good Rider, Scout, Black Water, Bare Shin Bones, Many Grey Horse, Wells, One Spot, Black Forehead, Many Guns, Little Bear, Bull Shields, Running Cranes, Grounds, Holy White Man, Heavy Shields, Eagle Child, Eagle Bear, Big Sorrel Horse, First Charger, Beebe, Twigg, Winnipeg, Mayfield, Weasel Calf, Raw Eater, Yellow Old Women, Turning Robes, Own Chief (D. Chief), Crane Bear, Soosay, Little Popular, Finedey, Royals, and adopted family Javier’s and Stimson.

 

Wesley’s Traditional Clans, Maamiiks (Fish Easters, Kainai) and Aaponiista (Weasel Calf, Siksika).

 

Wake Services will be held at the residence of Wesley and Regina Red Crow (Siksika Nation, AB) on Sunday, December 19, 2021, at 6:00 p.m.

 

Funeral Services will be held at Gordon Yellow Fly Memorial Arbour Piiksapi (Siksika Nation, AB) on Monday, December 20, 2021, at 11:00 a.m. Graveside Service to follow at Paul Little Walker Cemetery (Siksika Nation, AB). Condolences, memories and photos may be shared and viewed here.

 

In living memory of Wesley Red Crow, a tree will be planted in the Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation Area by McInnis & Holloway Funeral Homes, Park Memorial, 5008 Elbow Drive SW, Calgary, AB T2S 2L5, Telephone: 403-243-8200.